BRITISH BID

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4811, 20 February 1936, Page 7

BRITISH BID

FLYING-BOAT LEAD.

INCREASE IN PRODUCTION. Great efforts are now being made to' recover the lead Britain possessed in flying-boats for many years. The Admiralty is taking a keen interest in the development of boats towards increased range, accommodation, and seaworthiness, and the steps being taken towards a regular North Atr lantic service, states the “Daily Telegraph.” The design of ocean-going flyingboats is a matter of importance, and a situation in which it might be necessary to take over air liners foi co-operation with the Navy, on a similar basis to the employment of ocean liners, in time of war, must be considered. British flying-boat production is shortly to be augmented J>y the building in Great Britain of an American type. Meanwhile a big fleet of flying-boats is being built for Imperial Airways for the accelerated and multiplied services to South Africa, India, Australia and the Far East next year. There has been much preoccupation with the establishment of Empire air services, which in future are to depend far more upon flyingboats than upon aeroplanes, but it is only necessary to glance at a map of the world to see a number of opportunities which Britain has neglected. This country has made no attempt to win a “footing” in South Atlantic air transport, nor to run an air line down the West -Coast of Africa. Under the impetus of foreign rivalry a link has been established with China by a branch line to Hong Kong from the main Australian route. New Zealand is making arrangements with Pan-American Airways for an air service across the Pacific. Although Imperial Airways runs from England to the Cape, foreign air service interests have become firmly planted within the Union. The work now taken in hand by Imperial Airways is vast and tremendously important. By arrangement with Pan-American Airways a service across the North Atlantic is now projected. But although so much is being done it is evident that little or no attention is being given to scarcely less important fields for enterprise.